Fox's Cottages or Almshouses were in Windsor Street,
on the northern side directly opposite the Windsor Arms Public House.

By his will dated August 23rd 1809, Mr Francis Fox
left £1,200 for the purchase of a site and erection of six almshouses in
Plymouth. The bequest was invalid, however, and as a result the money went
to his main benefactor, Mr William Dillworth Crewdson. Although the
almshouses were said to have been built in 1834, it was by means of an
indenture dated June 11th 1840 that the land was conveyed to the trustees
for £215 and it would seem that the almshouses were then erected. Although
known as Fox's Almshouses they were in fact erected at the instruction of Mr
Crewdson.

The cost of the purchase of the land and the
building of the cottages exhausted the funds and it only thanks to further
charitable gifts from Mr William Dillworth Crewdson, Sarah Crewdson and
Lydia Prideaux, that the almshouses were maintained.

Each Cottage had two rooms and although there were
only six cottages they were to accommodate twelve poor women over the age of
50 years and who had resided in the Borough for at least twelve months. The
inmates were appointed by Miss Harriet Richardson, one of the trustees, with
the consent of the other trustees, Doctor Charles Albert Hingston, Mr George
Hingston and Mr Arthur Edward Pridham. Although the trustees were appointed
from with the Religious Society of Friends, there was no requirement for the
residents to belong to that organisation.

The inmates were expected to have their own means of
financial support but about £20 per year from the supporting charities was
divided among them.